This week on Basic Black: a discussion on the future of our communities from Boston to Washington, DC. We'll review the State of the City, the State of the State, and the State of the Union. For Boston, much of our discussion will center on the Mayor's proposals for school assignments; in Massachusetts, the organization of community colleges and the "three-strikes" law are drawing strong reaction; and as we look at how the State of the Union was received, we'll address recent events which seem to illustrate a shocking level of diminished respect for the Oval Office (and its current occupant).

This week on Basic Black: a discussion on the future of our communities from Boston to Washington, DC. We'll review the State of the City, the State of the State, and the State of the Union. For Boston, much of our discussion will center on the Mayor's proposals for school assignments; in Massachusetts, the organization of community colleges and the "three-strikes" law are drawing strong reaction; and as we look at how the State of the Union was received, we'll address recent events which seem to illustrate a shocking level of diminished respect for the Oval Office (and its current occupant).

The deadline is fast approaching on a federal mandate for the Boston City Council to pass a plan that reorganizes the city’s voting districts. But there seems to be no clear consensus among council members, nor among many in Boston’s communities of color, on how to do it. The mayor has already vetoed two maps. A coalition representing African American, Asian, and Latino voters has vowed to sue if they are unsatisfied with the council's solution. Emotions are running high, and only ten days remain.

With Mayor Menino's announcement that he would not seek a sixth term, the race for the next mayor of Boston has officially begun. Even as the slate of candidates takes shape, questions are emerging, among them: what is the opportunity for emerging leaders of color; what are the benefits to the city of Boston of new leadership, regardless of race; has the Menino administration left anything undone in communities of color that can now be addressed?

With Mayor Menino's announcement that he would not seek a sixth term, the race for the next mayor of Boston has officially begun. Even as the slate of candidates takes shape, questions are emerging, among them: what is the opportunity for emerging leaders of color; what are the benefits to the city of Boston of new leadership, regardless of race; has the Menino administration left anything undone in communities of color that can now be addressed?

After the broadcast, the conversation continued: With Mayor Menino's announcement that he would not seek a sixth term, the race for the next mayor of Boston has officially begun. Even as the slate of candidates takes shape, questions are emerging, among them: what is the opportunity for emerging leaders of color; what are the benefits to the city of Boston of new leadership, regardless of race; has the Menino administration left anything undone in communities of color that can now be addressed?

In the headlines this week: a discussion of the Boston mayor's race and how communities of color are poised to make their coalitions heard. Also, this is not the first time the IRS has come under fire for targeting political activity; we'll take a look at the IRS, the NAACP and the black church.

In the headlines this week: a discussion of the Boston mayor's race and how communities of color are poised to make their coalitions heard. Also, this is not the first time the IRS has come under fire for targeting political activity; we'll take a look at the IRS, the NAACP and the black church.

After the broadcast, the conversation turned to the topic of the recent controversy surrounding Gov. Deval Patrick's choice to head the board of Roxbury Community College. The governor's selection was Gerald Chertaivan, a recognized leader with strong experience in the non-profit education sector; but the Friends of Roxbury Community College believe the position should have gone to a person of color...